Strategic Goal 1

Provide the information and tools to maximize U.S. competitiveness and enable economic growth for American industries, workers, and consumers

The Department is committed to opening and expanding foreign markets for U.S. goods and services and improving the nation’s export performance. The Department through the International Trade Administration (ITA) will promote U.S. export growth through the implementation of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee’s (TPCC) National Export Strategy, ensuring that policies and priorities are consistent with national security and U.S. foreign policy objectives. The Department will enhance cooperation with its partnership organizations so that U.S. businesses can benefit from global business through free market trade negotiations and through identified priority markets. The Department will continue to focus on fostering a level playing field for U.S. firms through development of trade policy positions, advancement of negotiating positions, and through effective execution of U.S. trade laws intended to curb and combat predatory trading practices.

The Department through the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ensures that export controls do not place U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage in world markets by eliminating outdated controls and streamlining the process for obtaining export licenses for products that remain under export controls. These continual improvements are being made while being mindful of the dual-use nature of some commercial technologies and the national security implications of those technologies.

The Department, through the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA), provides decisionmakers with timely, relevant, and accurate economic and statistical information related to the U.S. economy and population. For example, responding to a request from Congress, ESA prepared a study on the economic impacts of rising natural gas prices on energy intensive industries in the United States. Through the work of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and its partner agencies such as the Census Bureau, the accuracy of the gross domestic product (GDP) and international trade in goods and services measures have been improved. Improved economic and demographic statistics are essential to sound business forecasting and understanding the strength and direction of the nation’s economy. The Department is at the forefront of national efforts to continually improve these statistics. With this in mind, the Department is endeavoring to fundamentally change the way the federal government conducts the Decennial Census.

In support of disadvantaged individuals and communities, the Department, through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), promotes private enterprise and job creation in economically distressed communities and regions by investing in projects that produce jobs and generate private capital investment. Likewise, the Department, through the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), promotes private enterprise and investment within minority communities.

The Department successfully moved this strategic goal forward in FY 2005. Bureaus with programs supporting this strategic goal are EDA, ITA, MBDA, BIS, and ESA’s Census Bureau and BEA.

SUMMARY OF STRATEGIC GOAL 1 PERFORMANCE GOALS

PERFORMANCE GOAL	STATUS*
Increase private enterprise and job creation in economically distressed communities (EDA)
Improve community capacity to achieve and sustain economic growth (EDA)
Strengthen U.S. industries (ITA)
Expand U.S. exporter base (ITA)
Increase access to the marketplace and financing for minority-owned businesses (MBDA)
Ensure fair competition in international trade (ITA)
Advance U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic interests by enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the export control system (BIS)
Ensure U.S. industry compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) agreement (BIS)
Prevent illegal exports and identify violators of export prohibitions and restrictions for prosecution (BIS)
Enhance the export and transit controls of nations seeking to improve their export control system (BIS)
Meet the needs of policymakers, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the public for current and benchmark measures of the U.S. population, economy, and governments (ESA/Census)
Promote a better understanding of the U.S. economy by providing the most timely, relevant, and accurate economic data in an objective and cost–effective manner (ESA/BEA)
* = Met (100%) = Significantly Met (75% - 99%) = Not Met (<75%) (back)

The following are the strategic objectives that fall under this strategic goal:

• Strategic Objective 1.1
• Strategic Objective 1.2
• Strategic Objective 1.3